WORKS Synonyms: 310 Similar and Opposite Words

works 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of work

as in causes

to be the cause of (a situation, action, or state of mind) this new drug can really work wonders

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in solves

to find an answer for through reasoning finally figured out how to work the math problem

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in serves

to have a certain purpose the human kidneys work as a filtering system for the blood

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in operates

to produce a desired effect this headache remedy takes half an hour to work

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in moves

to set or keep in motion this pump is worked by hand

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in uses

to control the mechanical operation of show me how to work the machine

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in struggles

to devote serious and sustained effort the organization has worked for years to raise people's awareness of human rights issues

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in exploits

to take unfair advantage of a young boy who worked his aunt for all she was worth in toys and candy when she visited once a year

Synonyms & Similar Words

works

2 of 2

noun

plural of work

as in factory

a building or set of buildings for the manufacturing of goods a glass works where high quality glassware is made

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of works

Verb

If the model works, Hund says Rare Ventures will expand to include more diseases and potentially fund more treatments. — Brad Quick, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026 Related Stories The film follows Di Marco’s titular character, a disabled young adult who works as a dominant at a fetish house. — Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 28 Aug. 2026 California State Superintendent Tony Thurmond is urging lawmakers to reject a legislative proposal, saying the state's financial oversight process works and does not require an emergency change. — Madisen Keavy, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026 To help push his progress along, Wigham, who’s Draft Academy company also works as representatives for athletes, had Pritchard move in with him two months ago. — Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Aug. 2026 Attack works against Intel and AMD chips The researchers evaluated TONTOU across four processor generations from Intel and AMD and successfully caused mispredictions on chips from both companies. — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 2026 According to Garen, the company now works across areas that include chiropractic care and medical aesthetics. — Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026 This crisis is a reason to fix what is broken, not an excuse to get rid of what works. — Joshua MacEy, Hartford Courant, 28 Aug. 2026 Except that’s how the entertainment business works these days, and those deals did pay them millions (the Netflix production deal was reported to be in the $100-million range). — Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026

Noun

Venezia Spotlight is the festival’s competitive section dedicated to works that showcase emerging trends and demonstrate creative originality and innovation. — Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2026 Among the more than 40 films in Telluride’s main program are new works from major directors such as Martin McDonagh, Werner Herzog, Mike Leigh, Danny Boyle and Paweł Pawlikowski. — Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026 The diary became a literary phenomenon in Germany and is considered one of the defining works of contemporary German literature. — Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 3 Sep. 2026 Published posthumously in 2013, the subsequent Work and Structure became a literary phenomenon in Germany and is now regarded as one of the defining works of contemporary German literature. — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 3 Sep. 2026 Grandmacore cooking works because the reward happens off the feed. — Ashley Lynch, Sacbee.com, 3 Sep. 2026 Research shows that treatment works and that hearing aids do improve communication, social engagement, and the overall quality of life. — Kansas City Star, 3 Sep. 2026 On October 22, the collection will hit the auction block and the following day some works will be offered at Christie’s Modern Art sale. — Hikmat Mohammed For Artnews, Robb Report, 3 Sep. 2026 In the hospital, White works alongside the same doctors who took care of her. — Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 2 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for works

Verb

Economists once again think economic growth causes prices to rise.

— John Tamny, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Here's what insomnia is, what causes it and how it's typically treated.

— Daryl Austin, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of causes

Verb

Speeding up experimental work This assembly line setup solves a major engineering limitation in fusion research.

— Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2026
In her detective series, under the pen name Amanda Cross, an English professor solves murders whose motives include bad psychoanalysis, student riots, and biographers who know too much for their own good.

— Merve Emre, New Yorker, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of solves

Verb

The flood was a major blow to an enduring effort to modernize the pipeline that serves 6 million visitors a year and roughly 1,600 residents of Grand Canyon Village.

— Jamie Stengle, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
The flood hits water supply in the canyon The flood was a major blow to an enduring effort to modernize the water pipeline that serves visitors and the roughly 1,600 residents of Grand Canyon Village.

— Jamie Stengle, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of serves

Verb

Beauty, where product development operates at warp speed comparatively, the beauty executive knows which categories can be fast-tracked to market and which need more time.

— Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 31 Aug. 2026
Both were familiar with the Plaza’s owners, the company which owns and operates Dallas’s historic high-end shopping district, Highland Park Village.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of operates

Verb

Areas farther east could see greater impacts if the center moves toward the Sabine Pass area, as some forecast guidance currently suggests.

— Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026
In training camp, Steward worked at nickel and at safety, but the personnel moves around the secondary have factored him out.

— Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of moves

Verb

Pieces must be shaped, dried, fired, glazed, fired again and tested; Przenioslo uses a community kiln and gives herself at least two months to prepare a collection.

— Pat Mueller, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
Vita uses textiles, performance and video to speak about internet culture, along with stunning visuals that incorporate their family’s Middle Eastern diaspora and history.

— Shelley Holcomb, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of uses

Verb

Deep in the Pyrenees mountains, a young man, Miquel, struggles in the wake of his mother’s death in a snowstorm — a tragic event that was at the center of Tóibín’s 2006 novella, A Long Winter.

— Mary Lawrence Ware, semafor.com, 3 Sep. 2026
Starring Weber Yang and Chang Shih Ying (Yen And Ai-Lee), the film depicts a grieving family that struggles to recover from a fragile relationship after an unexpected tragic accident.

— Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of struggles

Verb

One method exploits the weaknesses of a game’s random number generator (RNG) to obtain specific Pokémon; it’s appropriately known as RNG manipulation.

— Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 25 Aug. 2026
The film follows an 11-year-old boy who exploits his brother’s tragic death to fight his father and his community, until his lies expose the hypocrisy and corruption beneath a seemingly moral society.

— Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of exploits

Browse Nearby Words

workrooms

works

works (at)

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Works.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/works. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of works

verb

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

apiary

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Games & Quizzes